President Nguyen Xuan Phuc talks with ICAP First Vice President Noemi Rabaza Fernandez. Source: Cuban embassy in Hanoi

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc started his official friendly visit to Cuba by meeting leaders of two friendship organisations, visiting Vietnamese embasy and expats in Havana, reported VNA.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Havana on Sep. 18 morning (local time), beginning a three-day official friendly visit to Cuba at the invitation of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz Canel.

The Vietnamese President was welcomed at Havana Jose Marti International Airport by Politburo member, Vice President of Cuba Salvador Valdés Mesa and officials of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Thanh Tung, the embassy’s staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community working, living and studying in the country.

On his first day, Phuc received First Vice President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP) Noemi Rabaza Fernandez, President of the Cuba - Vietnam Friendship Association (CVFA) Maria Yolanda Ferrer Gomez and leaders of schools named after Uncle Ho, Nguyen Van Troi and Vo Thi Thang.

Welcomed the Vietnamese President, Fernandez said Phuc is the first Vietnamese leader to visit Cuba following the success of the 8th National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, demonstrating the Vietnamese Party, State and people’s special sentiments to their Cuban counterparts under any circumstance.

She added that Cuba is educating young generations about special bonds between the two nations. The ICAP and the CVFA recently celebrated their 60th founding anniversaries. The CVFA now has over 1,600 members while the ICAP also has ties with partners globally.

The Cuban people will support Vietnam now and forever under any circumstance, she said.

President receives leaders of Cuba – Vietnam friendship organisations. Source: Cuban embassy in Hanoi

President receives leaders of Cuba – Vietnam friendship organisations. Source: Cuban embassy in Hanoi

President Phuc, for his part, said despite geographical distance, the Vietnamese people always stand side by side with the fraternal Cuban people and contribute the bilateral ties.

CVFA President Gomez said its 34 chapters will continue contributing to the revolutionary causes of the two Parties and people of Cuba and Vietnam.

Cuba always supports Vietnam and wants to learn from the country’s experience, she said,

President Phuc thanked and hailed leaders and officials of the ICAP, CVFA and the schools and the Young Communist League of Cuba for fostering Vietnam – Cuba ties over the past years.

He affirmed that Cuba’s solidarity activities with Vietnam have provided a great source of encouragement to the Vietnamese people in the past and at present. In return, the Vietnamese people have also offered warm sentiments and a helping hand to their Cuban counterparts, especially in their difficult times.

The Vietnamese leader expressed his belief that the ICAP, CVFA and Cuban schools will educate young generations about the tradition of close-knit relationship between the two nations, contributing to further strengthening and deepening the bilateral special traditional friendship.

President Phuc visits the Vietnamese Embassy and met representatives of the Vietnamese community in Cuba. Photo: VNA

The same day, President Phuc also visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met representatives of the Vietnamese community in Cuba.

At the meeting, he said the Party and State have always paid attention to overseas Vietnamese, including those in Cuba.

The State leader asked the embassy's staff to hold aloft the flag of solidarity and make more practical contributions to maintaining, nurturing and developing the great special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

He asked the embassy to request Cuba to promote cooperation projects with Vietnam in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, rice and corn production.

The President also directed ministries and branches to pay more attention to cooperation activities with Cuba, especially in food production, with specific and effective projects and programs.

The State President said that the Vietnamese delegation visiting Cuba this time, there were leaders of many central ministries and branches with many aid activities, supporting the Cuban people to overcome difficulties and win the Covid-19 pandemic. In particular, during this visit, the two countries' senior leaders will discuss cooperation in the fight against Covid through Cuba's supply of vaccines and the transfer of vaccine production technology to Vietnam.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc is scheduled to hold talks with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz Canel; and meet with Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, and President of the National Assembly of the People’s Power and President of the Council of State Esteban Lazo Hernández.

Vietnamese Banh Giay Gio Recipe – 2 Ways of Making Steamed Rice Cakes and Pork Rolls Easy recipe for Steamed Rice Cakes and Pork Roll (Banh Day/Giay) - a Vietnamese sandwich of thick-sliced pork roll between two steamed glutinous rice cakes.

Foundation Donates Computers to Help Poor Students in Online Learning The Dariu Foundation and Blancco Technology Group signed a cooperation agreement to provide used computers for students and pupils in difficult circumstances.

Vietnamese Expats Donate to Support Flood Victims in Germany The Vietnamese community living and working in Germany have donated EUR 40,452 to help people in the flood-affected Rhineland-Palatinate